Pelzer Maarit, Werthmann Jessica, Fleischhaker Christian, Svaldi Jennifer, Tuschen-Caffier Brunna
Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Freiburg University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany.
Clin Psychol Eur. 2023 Dec 22;5(4):e11277. doi: 10.32872/cpe.11277. eCollection 2023 Dec.
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a severe mental illness, which typically develops in adolescence and, if left untreated, often becomes chronic. Body dissatisfaction is a core characteristic of AN. Mirror exposure (ME) is an effective therapeutic technique to tackle body dissatisfaction in adult patients with eating disorders, but there is limited evidence for the effects of ME in adolescence. One potential mechanism underlying effects of ME on body dissatisfaction is change in body-related attention bias. However, this mechanism remains to be empirically tested. Accordingly, the aim of the current study is twofold: primarily, we aim to test if ME can reduce body dissatisfaction and associated symptoms in adolescent patients with AN. Additionally, we aim to investigate whether change in biased body-related attention due to ME is a possible mechanism of action.
Adolescent patients with AN are randomized to either 12 sessions of ME (3 ME-sessions/week) or wait-list within four weeks. Main outcomes include body dissatisfaction and associated symptoms of AN. Moreover, body-related attention bias is assessed at baseline and post-treatment by means of eye-tracking with two paradigms. Further, process variables are collected weekly. In addition, 12 weeks after end of the study, the acceptability of the ME is assessed.
The main aim of the study is to evaluate high-frequency and high-intense ME for treating body dissatisfaction in adolescents with AN. In addition, we would like to clarify whether change in attentional bias for body stimuli is a mechanism underlying change in body dissatisfaction due to ME.
神经性厌食症（AN）是一种严重的精神疾病，通常在青少年时期发病，若不治疗，往往会发展为慢性疾病。身体意象不满是神经性厌食症的核心特征。镜像暴露（ME）是一种有效的治疗技术，可解决成年饮食失调患者的身体意象不满问题，但关于镜像暴露在青少年中的效果证据有限。镜像暴露对身体意象不满产生影响的一个潜在机制是与身体相关的注意偏向的改变。然而，这一机制仍有待实证检验。因此，本研究的目的有两个：首先，我们旨在测试镜像暴露是否能减轻青少年神经性厌食症患者的身体意象不满及相关症状。此外，我们旨在研究镜像暴露导致的与身体相关的注意偏向的改变是否是一种可能的作用机制。
将青少年神经性厌食症患者随机分为两组，一组接受12次镜像暴露治疗（每周3次），另一组在四周内等待治疗。主要结局包括身体意象不满及神经性厌食症的相关症状。此外，在基线和治疗后通过两种范式的眼动追踪评估与身体相关的注意偏向。此外，每周收集过程变量。此外，在研究结束12周后，评估镜像暴露治疗的可接受性。
本研究的主要目的是评估高频高强度的镜像暴露治疗对青少年神经性厌食症患者身体意象不满的治疗效果。此外，我们希望阐明对身体刺激的注意偏向的改变是否是镜像暴露治疗导致身体意象不满改变的一种机制。
